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Keywords: analytical stress assessment; experimental testing; Finite Element Method (FEM); spherical tank
Kljune rijei: analitika procjena naprezanja; eksperimentalno testiranje; kuglasti spremnik; metoda konanih elemenata (FEM)
1 Introduction hydrostatic pressure [5] and forces that arise due to its
own weight. In addition to these constant loads, other
The spherical tank (Fig. 1) belongs to the group of loads may occur due to the action of wind force [6], snow
stable elevated tanks designed for storing butane, propane [7] as well as seismic loads [8, 9]. To prevent leakage or
or mixture of propane-butane with medium pressure fire of those hazardous gases, detection of damage in tank
[13]. structure is crucial [5]. However, good tank design, and
adhering to safety protocols can prevent critical damage
from ever occurring in tank structure. To ensure there are
no flaws in their design, engineers cannot rely solely on
analytical results, they need to verify their design by
numerical simulations and experimental testing as well,
which is methodology presented in this paper.
Well known analytical procedure used in designing
spherical tanks is briefly explained [10]. Detailed
derivation of expressions for membrane forces and
stresses in the direction of the tangent to the circle of the
parallel and the meridian using the membrane state of
stress and equilibrium equations for the shell in the form
of surface of revolution is given in [11]. Analytical
solution is used in the initial phase of design because the
basic dimensions of the spherical tank can be obtained in
a relatively short period of time [10], but this solution
does not account for specificity of areas with high
concentration of stress, such as points of connection
between tank and its supports, and therefore more detailed
numerical analysis is required in order to be certain that
proposed design will meet safety criteria. This analysis is
done using Finite Element Method (FEM) and its results
Figure 1 Spherical tank V=1000 m3 show that equivalent value of stress at some points
exceeds the values of yield stress. Areas of plastic
These highly flammable gases need to be stored in deformation are not significant in comparison to the entire
tanks designed with safety as their upmost priority [4]. spherical tank construction, so based on FEM results it is
The spherical tank is loaded with the fluid pressure, concluded that cumulating of plastic deformation will not
Figure 2 a) Position of the shell in the form of surface of revolution element, b) Internal forces in the element of the shell in the form of surface of
revolution
According to [11], equilibrium equations for the shell Equilibrium equation for shell section is given by
element are given with: 2 RN sin 2 + Q = 0 , (4)
N ( N r0 )
r1 + N r1cos + + Xr0 r1 = 0 , where Q represents resultant of external loading.
(1) 2.1.1 Own weight loading
N ( N r0 )
r1 N r1cos + + Xr0 r1 = 0 , (2) The load on the spherical tank due to its own weight
is shown in Fig. 4.
N N Position of tank supports is defined by angle 0 (Fig.
+ = Z . (3)
r2 r1 4).
Internal forces due to tank own weights above
supports are:
gR
N = , (5)
1 + cos
1
N = gR cos . (6)
1 + cos
N N
= , = , (14)
gR 2 2cos 2 Rp g
N = 5 6cos + + . (11)
6 1 + cos 2
gR 2 2cos 2 Rp g
N = 5+ + , (12)
6 1 cos 2
gR 2 2cos 2 Rp g
N = 1 6cos + . (13)
6 1 cos 2
stress field is presented in Fig. 6. The distribution of absolutely certain that plastic deformations in supports
equivalent stresses of the FEM analysis corresponds to the will not cause failure of the structure.
distribution of stresses obtained by analytical calculation.
The highest values of stresses were obtained at the
points of support of the spherical tank (Fig. 7) [20].
the supports. Since this high stress is concentrated in [10] Petrovic, R.; Kojic, M.; Djordjevic, D. Design of tanks for
small region of connection area, associated plastic storage and transport of fluid (in Serbian), Faculty of
deformations are sufficiently small, so we draw a Mechanical Engineering Kraljevo, (2005).
conclusion that this value of stress is not critical and that [11] Timoshenko, S. P.; Woinowsky-Krieger, S. Theory of
Plates and Shells, B&JO Enterprise PTe ltd, 1985.
construction of spherical tank can proceed. After [12] Balievi, P.; Ivandi, .; Kraljevi D. Temperature
construction of spherical tank FEM results are verified transitional phenomena in spherical reservoir wall. //
with experiments. Experiments were repeated after 8 Tehniki vijesnik-Technical gazette. 17, 1(2010), pp. 31-34.
months confirming validity of the FEM conclusion that it [13] Panthi, S. K.; Ramakrishnan, N.; Pathak, K. K.; Chouhan, J.
is not necessary to reinforce the spherical tank at the S. An analysis of springback in sheet metal bending using
points of its connection with the supports despite the fact finite element method (FEM). // Journal of Materials
that minor plastic deformation occurs. Methodology Processing Technology. 186, (2007), pp. 120-124. DOI:
presented in this paper which utilizes advantages of 10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2006.12.026
analytical, numerical and experimental procedures, [14] Kojic, M. An extension of 3-D procedure to large strain
analysis of shells. // Computer methods in applied
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most importantly, safety within envisioned operating DOI: 10.1016/S0045-7825(01)00367-X
conditions. [15] Yoon, J. H.; Lee, H. S.; Yi, Y. M.; Jang, Y. S. Prediction of
blow forming profile of spherical titanium tank. // Journal
Acknowledgements of Materials Processing Technology. 187-188, (2007). pp.
463-466. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2006.11.187
The part of this research is supported by Ministry of [16] Choubey, A.; Sehgal, D. K.; Tandon, N. Finite element
Education, Science and Technological Development, analysis of vessels to study changes in natural frequencies
Republic of Serbia, Grant TR32036. due to cracks. // Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping. 83,
(2006), pp. 181-187. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpvp.2006.01.001
[17] Wang, Z. R.; Yushan, Z.; Yuansong, Z.; Shijian, Y.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.jcsr.2004.11.001 Sestre Janjic 6, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
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E-mail: topalovic@kg.ac.rs
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Isolation. // Procedia Engineering. 14, (2011), pp. 1879- Radovan Slavkovi, PhD. full professor
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buckling of anchored steel tanks subjected to horizontal E-mail: radovan@kg.ac.rs
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